Saffron consists of dried stigmas of Crocus Sativus L. Three times of extraction by ethanol/deionized water (80/20) have been used for sample preparation and immediately injected to HPLC for saffranal (main aroma component of saffron) determinations. The method was modifed by omitting solvent evaporation and solid phase extraction, which was fast and reproducible(146± 9mg/kg) with the minimum detectability was 0.013 ppm and the average recovery 101.14%. The method was linear up to 10ppm. Saffron samples were from two famous producer cities in khorasan, Ghaen and Ghonabad. Four different drying methods (Vaccum Oven, Macrowave, Solar and Traditional) were used for drying the stigmatas. Each of the two analysis methods (HPLC & Spectrophotometric) was used for determination of saffranal in the dried stigmas. Comparison between the two analytical methods specially by focusing on the traditional samples revealed that spectrophotometric method should be replaced by HPLC or modified to receive better selectivity.

ObjectiveMicrowave is widely used in industry, medical science, scientific and domestic devices. Application of 915 MHz frequency in microwave of mobile phone causes thermal and non thermal effects. In respect of exceeding use of mobile phone by many people for long periods of time, and with respect to the important role of antioxidant in heath, we carried out investigation of biological effects of microwave mobile phones on antioxidant in rabbit blood, in this study.Materials and MethodsIn this study, fourteen white male rabbits (three months old, 1400- 1700 g) were used. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of case and control (7 each). Three weeks exposure period for 8 hours daily was conducted for case group and whole body was exposed to 915 MHz microwave by a stimulator device in radiation chamber. The average of power density of whole body was 0.6789 mW/cm2. Blood samples by cardiac puncher carried out 12 hours after last day in case and control groups and oxidative stress measured by FRAP assay. The absorbance of TPTZ-Fe+2 was read in 593nm by spectrophotometer. Statistic analyses were carried out by t-test in SPSS statistic software. ResultsTotal antioxidant capacity in case and control groups was 630.619±151.08 and 890.619±104.55 in plasma, respectively. This result was significant statistically (p£0.003). Average of total antioxidant capacity in case group was decreased by 30 percent.ConclusionThese results show. that 915MHz microwave on, decreases total antioxidant capacity and may be a physical adverse agent and causes oxidative stress. Therefore, reduction of power density in mobile phone and more use of antioxidant by users, can reduce oxidative stress strongly.

Encapsulation process is a method by which sensitive materials (core) are covered with polymeric materials (wall). As most encapsulation techniques need complicated equipments, long laboratory works and are expensive, therefore, in this study a new technique is utilized for producing microcapsules at a very short time and low cost. This technique is based on the difference between dielectric constants of core and wall materials as well as electromagnetic energy. Edible citric acid crystals (core) were combined with some coating materials such as salab, gum tragacanth, refined starch, sucrose, guar gum, agarose, gelatin, fibrosis carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), inulin, low and high methoxyl pectin (LMP & HMP), casein, and sorbitol at ratios about 1:2 up to 1:100 (core:wall). Each mixture was treated up to 600 seconds (depending on the type of wall materials) at various microwave power intensities (10-100%). Afterwards, the prepared microcapsules were separated by distinct (with defined mesh No.) sieves, and their apparent structure and quality were evaluated using binocular and their photographs were taken by a microscope equipped with digital camera. Our findings revealed that amongst the materials were examined only inulin, casein, LMP (9.5%), fibrosis CMC, and sorbitol were able to produce high quality as well as highly efficient microcapsules, respectively. In addition, the highest coating efficiency was seen at 100% microwave power intensity (1200W) at 1:10 mixing ratio. Moreover, the optimum microwave treating time for casein, inulin, fibrosis CMC, LMP (9.5%), and sorbitol was 400, 75, 400, 100, and 100 seconds, respectively.

Background and Purpose: Application of 9/5 MHz microwaves in mobiles causes thermal and non-thermal effects. Due to occupational exposure to microwaves particularly in telecommunication operators, and due to the importance of antioxidants in immune system and prevention of diseases, this study was designed to investigate the biological effects of 915 MHz microwaves in mobiles on antioxidant changes and their eversibility to normal after disconnected exposure.Methods and Materials: This experimental study was conducted on 14 white male rabbits (three month old/1400-1700 gr) of pure NewZealand race. They were randomly assigned into case and control groups. Case rabbits were exposed, for three weeks 8 hours a day, to simulated mobile microwaves of 915 MHz frequency and mean density of 0.6789 mW/cm2 in radiation chamber. In order to investigate the reversibility of antioxidant capacity to normal, the exposure was disconnected for two weeks. Blood samples by cardiac puncture were obtained from both groups in three intervals (after 3 weeks exposure, after one week rest, again after two weeks) and plasma antioxidant was measured by FRAP assay. The absorption rate of TPT2-Fe+2 was read in 593 nm by spectrophotometer. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS using ANOVA and Tukey testes.Results: The results of mean comparison of antioxidant concentration in control rabbits (890.61±104.555 mmol/lit) and case rabbits after threeweek exposure (630.61±151.08 mmol/lit) showed significant differences. The results of mean comparison of antioxidant concentration in control rabbits (870.28±104.55 mmol/lit) and case rabbits after a one-week disconnection (575.33±132.58 mmol/lit) and two weeks after disconnected exposure (526.66±20.66 mmol/lit) indicated that the induced effects were not reversible, and that they are statistically different from control rabbits' antioxidant mean.Conclusion: Mobile-induced microwaves decreases plasma antioxidant capacity and it can be a harmful physical effect. Disconnection from exposure for two weeks is not sufficient for returning antioxidant capacity to normal due to occupational chronic exposure to mobile microwave radiation, chain reactions producing radicals and their persistence or stability or causing instability to parent molecules.

M-type hexaferrite SrFe9Mn1.5 Ti1.5O19 and BaFe9Mn1.5 Ti1.5O19 were synthesized by usual ceramic sintering method. The powders of the 70% ferrites by weight were mixed with resin epoxy. The prepared composite was sprayed on a 1.8mm-thick aluminum 5083 substrate. Their structure and microwave adsorption property were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and vector network analyzer. The results showed that the magnetoplumbite structure for both samples was formed and powders had the hexagonal or amorphous morphology with particle sizes within the range of 1-5mm. The maximum reflection loss for Sr-ferrite coating was 18.84 GHz equal to (-26.43 dB). The waveband of absorption was approximately 3GHz more than 15dB for reflection losses. The results for Ba-ferrite were 19.18GHzwith (-44.lldB) reflection loss and 3.2 GHz waveband. Both coatings can be good candidates for stealth radar targets.

Drying method has an important role on medicinal plants production and affects quality of derived drugs. In order to study the different drying methods on some Achillea species, an experiment was conducted in factorial randomized based on complete block design (RCBD) with tow factors: Achillea species (5 species) and drying methods (5 methods) with three replications. The first factor was Achillea millefolium, A. eriophora, A. nobilis, A. biebersteinii, A. wilhelmsii and the second factor 1- drying under sun for 72 hours 2- drying in shade 25oC for 120 hours 3- drying in 50oC for 48 horse 4- drying in 100oC for 24 hours 5- drying by microwave for less than 10 minutes. Essential oil was extracted from fresh sample and compared with these methods. The results showed significant difference (p<0.01) between species and drying methods on weight loss, final water content and essential oil percentage. Result also showed significant interaction between drying methods and species (p<0.01). Highest percentage of essential oil was obtained from A. eriophora and lowest percentage obtained from A.wilhelmsii. Highest percentage of essential oil was attained from drying method at 25oC and the lowest amount in drying at 100oC. In conclusion, drying of Achillea in 25oC was the best method for essential oil content and quality.

Recently, rapid heating by microwave has been known as a significant technique for the synthesis of metal nanostructures. In this study, in order to process of silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate (AgNO3) as pre material, polyvinyl Payrolyden (PVP) as a stabilizer and water, ethylene glycol and ethanol as solvent at a temperature 25oC were used. At first, solution with certain ratios of AgNO3 and PVP were prepared and the reaction between solvents was carried out during 90 s. During the chemical reaction between solvents, electromagnetic waves with the fixed intensity and frequency 2450 MHz were applied to the system by the microwave oven. Then intensely silver nanoparticles in the solution were obtained as a result of chemical reactions. To determine particle size distribution and concentration, the prepared nanoparticles were investigated by analysis visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS). The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs showed that the processed nanoparticles have spherical and semi-spherical morphology and size distribution of spherical particles is in the range of 10 to 40 nm. The prepared silver nanostructures show less crystallization degree and smaller particle size than the oil bath conventional methods.